Messages

16

General discussion forum / 1216H looses connectivity with 2.0

« on: 2012-02-04, 19:40:45 »

Jan, thanks for version 2.0.  The new antenna selection code works great!  At least on one of my switches.  Much more versatile.

I have two switches; serial #1537 and #1776.  1537 works great with 2.0.  1776 does not.  It seems to "hang" and be very slow to respond to menu selections or require me to reload it in the browser where I have to "restart" it to get it to work again but it only seems to respond quickly for a few minutes then requires a restart again.  I had to go back to version 1.23 on it and give up the new features of 2.0 :-(

The only difference I notice in the two boxes is the one that works has bootloader 1.8 installed and the one that fails has bootloader 1.9.  I've pasted the info from each box below.

The one that fails:

Company   : Microbit
Product   : 1216H Web Switch
Software  : 1.23
Hardware  : 1
Bootloader: 1.9
Build     : Oct  5 2011 13:44:38
S/N       : 1766
PID       : 4
Uptime    : 5011
=========================

MAC       : 00:1e:fd:00:xx:xx
IP address: 192.168.0.xxx
Netmask   : 255.255.255.0
Gateway   : 192.168.0.1
DNS       : 192.168.0.1
=========================
Max available memory = 16301 bytes
Sun state: Unknown

The one that works

Company   : Microbit
Product   : 1216H WebSwitch
Software  : 2.0
Hardware  : 1
Bootloader: 1.8
Build     : Dec 16 2011 16:12:50
S/N       : 1537
PID       : 4
Uptime    : 5530
=========================

MAC       : 00:1e:fd:00:xx:xx
IP address: 192.168.0.xxx
Netmask   : 255.255.255.0
Gateway   : 192.168.0.1
DNS       : 192.168.0.1
=========================
Max available memory = 16301 bytes
Sun state: Unknown
Last Dynamic DNS status: Error, code=2

In addition, I notice if I set only 2 switches to be "active" in the "relays to be used for antenna selection", after saving the change I don't see any way to get back to be able to change this setting and add another switch to be active.  The "antenna selection" menu shows only the two "active" switches and does not show the lower part of the window to allow selection of different relays to be active nor does it show the "disconnected timeout" selection anymore.

Joe W4WT

17

General discussion / Re: HamRadioDeluxe performances

« on: 2012-02-04, 19:08:41 »

Enrico,

HRD works fine with version 1.2.1.  That is the ONLY version that seems to work well for me.  I've tried all the newer versions and they all have a very slow response time.  It looks like Microbit is not allowing download of earlier versions of the software for some reason but if you can get 1.2.1, I think it may work much better for you.

Joe W4WT

18

General discussion forum / Re: New 5 minute timer problem in 1.24

« on: 2011-12-12, 19:17:39 »

Jan, 20 minutes might not be enough for me but the ability to completely disable the timer will solve the problem.  Thanks in advance for the update!

Joe, W4WT

19

General discussion forum / New 5 minute timer problem in 1.24

« on: 2011-12-09, 23:37:22 »

Jan, it looks like I have run up on another problem with the new code.  This is related to the new 5 minute timer you put in to turn off all relays if no frequency info is heard in 5 minutes.  This is now causing my transceiver to "go dead" due to the timeout shutting off the relays every 5 minutes when I am just sitting and listening to the radio but not changing frequency, mode, etc.

The reason this is happening is my using a micro controller that is programmed as an "intelligent" Icom CI-V interface.  The computer, transceiver, and Icom PW-1 amp all plug into separate CI-V ports (UART ports) controlled by this micro controller.  This keeps all devices isolated from each other and eliminates the PW-1 bus collision problem that is well known among Icom PW-1 users.  This isolation and intelligence handles the computer queries to the transceiver directly.  The micro controller controls data flow on the CI-V bus and it responds to the computer (HRD) directly and provides frequency and mode data, as well as other data, when requested.  It also buffers frequency and mode based on the last frequency and mode that came from the radio so unless the frequency or mode are changed at the radio or remotely through HRD, the buffered data is sent back to the computer/HRD and nothing is sent/requested to/from the transceiver and thus the Web Switch doesn't get any frequency data he times out and my radio doesn't hear well with no antenna connected!

Is is possible for you to put a enable/disable entry for this new 5 minute timer?  I like the idea of shutting all relays off after a period of time (if I forget when I shut down, for example) but the 5 minute time frame doesn't work for me.  Or maybe a time to timeout setting so we can put something in other than 5 minutes.

I've decided to go back to 2.23 for the time being.  I hate giving up the new multi-relay ON function but the other problems outweigh the benefit. :-(

Thanks,

Joe W4WT

20

General discussion forum / Re: Two relays on for one band segment

« on: 2011-12-09, 17:07:03 »

Thanks, Jan.  I'll use the previous release until the new one comes out.

Joe W4WT

21

General discussion forum / Re: Two relays on for one band segment

« on: 2011-12-09, 08:24:53 »

Jan, thanks for updating the code!  It works exactly as I want now for one of my switches.  However, my second switch has a problem.  I have it set for Icom, no TXD but only have 2 of the 5 relays set to respond to the transceiver frequency.  The other three relays I want to be able to pick manually and sometimes I need to pick two at the same time.  I can't do this anymore with the new code.  I could before the update.  If I go back to the last version, I can do this again.  I hope I explained the problem adequately.

Is this the intended mode of operation now or was this a "side effect" ?

Thanks,

Joe W4WT

22

General discussion forum / Re: Two relays on for one band segment

« on: 2011-11-09, 17:47:02 »

Guy, thanks for the response.  I guess we need to make this a FEATURE REQUEST.  It certainly is possible to program this function in the switch.  Hopefully Microbit will accept this request for a future software upgrade as it is needed for other functions than what I have described.  I've had several occasions where I needed two relays to automatically be selected automatically based on frequency to perform a function.

Joe W4WT

23

General discussion forum / Two relays on for one band segment

« on: 2011-11-06, 00:04:00 »

I am trying to get two "relays" to close for a single band segment (7.0 to 7.1 mhz).  I have the webswitch set to decode my CI-V Icom interface and all works well.  I have a 40 meter beam but for CW, I need to add additional tuning components to get the SWR reasonable for that part of the band.  Thus, I need to automatically pick both the beam (which I have set using "7A" in advanced settings for relay 1 and I want relay 4 to activate using "70" in advanced settings to pick the 7.0 to 7.1 segment.  When I code this in, relay 4 does indeed activate for 7.0 to 7.1 mhz BUT relay one does not even though it is set to 7A.  I tried setting it to 71,72,73 but it still won't activate with relay 4.  When I tune up above 7.1, relay one activates and relay 4 deactivates (which relay 4 should do).

Is it not possible to pick two relays when the webswitch is decoding the radio?

Thanks,

Joe W4WT

24

General discussion / Re: Software for RRC-Micro PC-Client

« on: 2011-08-09, 18:01:47 »

No change.  Still as I reported.

I noticed LA7THA posted above that this also happens with a Kenwood radio so it appears it is not limited to Icom.

Joe

25

General discussion forum / Re: Audio

« on: 2011-08-09, 07:40:53 »

Mitch, thanks!  The "bullet" looks very interesting indeed.

Joe W4WT

26

General discussion forum / Re: Audio

« on: 2011-08-08, 19:53:27 »

Roger, unfortunately I don't have any ideas about your problem but am interested in your UHF link and how you did it.  I don't want to hijack your thread so if you like, you can respond to me via email at w4wt@arrl.net.  I operate my remote station which is about 1.5 miles away via internet and have thought about microwave or UHF being a better deal financially.

Thanks,

Joe W4WT

27

General discussion forum / Re: RRCMicro Client password problem

« on: 2011-08-08, 19:46:38 »

Look at your password carefully as the Micro password does not allow as many characters as the 1258 does.  I had this problem and didn't realize the last letter of the password wasn't actually being entered into the Micro password field when I typed it and ended up having to shorten my password by 1 character in the 1258 to accommodate the Micro password length.

Joe W4WT

28

General discussion forum / Re: New Hum Problem with 2.41

« on: 2011-07-18, 20:35:45 »

I can confirm there is a hum problem with 2.41 and it isn't just tied to the USB port.  I don't use USB ports and when I loaded 2.41 on my 1258's I started to get reports of hum in the audio.  I backed down to 2.40 and no more hum.

Joe W4WT


Update:  Looks like I was wrong.  I apparently have an intermittent problem in the equipment that has just appeared causing my hum problem.  It just happened to quit when I downgraded the firmware.

 

29

General discussion / Re: Software for RRC-Micro PC-Client

« on: 2011-07-01, 16:54:23 »

Roland, I've done a lot of testing this past week and here is what I see using Icom radios (That is the only brand I have - IC-7700 and Pro III):

1:  HRD doesn't work properly with 1.3.1 or 1.3.0 with an Icom radio.  The symptom is very slow response to just about any input including when HRD loads.  On loading, the sliders take 30 seconds or more to "adjust themselves" to the current settings on the radio.  HRD does work properly with version 1.2.1 and is very responsive.  That is the version I'm running now.

2:  TRX-Manager doesn't work at all for me with any version so far.  The COM Port driver seems to still have a fault, to me, using TRX-Manager as I see COM port errors not just no receive data from the radio.

3:  When I connect to the remote unit with the Micro unit, if I want to operate VOX, I have to open Windows Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Sound, Recording, then double click the microphone I'm using to get to properties, select Levels, then click on the "mute" icon to un-mute the microphone.  If the Micro connection times out (which it does about every 10 minutes) and I have to disconnect and reconnect, I have to go into the "Sound" area of Control Panel and once again un-mute the microphone in order to use VOX again.  Push to talk works okay as the PTT action seems to un-mute the microphone automatically but it is a real problem trying to use VOX which I use all the time.

4:  Version 2.41 of the RRC-1258 firmware causes hum in the audio of the Micro (as well as two 1258 units).  I backed down to 2.40 and that solved the problem.  Update:  This is not the case... I have an equipment problem that has just appeared and is causing the hum problem.  It just happened to disappear when I downgraded the firmware.

I hope you will look at these problems when you return from vacation.  Hope you have a good one!


Joe W4WT

30

General discussion / Re: Software for RRC-Micro PC-Client

« on: 2011-06-29, 17:36:05 »

I have both the MIC and Speaker selected on the profile.  Not sure why it didn't show up in the debug output.  I have the RRC Micro as both speaker and mic. 

Not sure why you are saying I should select "Kenwood" and not "Icom".  I use an Icom Pro III.  Is the Micro set up such that I should be telling it to use Kenwood?  Is that what you are saying?

I have all COM channels selected because I use all COM channels (or would if TRX-Manager worked on the Micro).  I use COM 0 for the radio (Icom Pro III), I use Com 1 for the rotor, and Com 2 for the "secondary channel" (called "Synchro" by TRX-Manager) to control the Icom PW-1 to prevent collisions on the CI-V bus.  Having to do this is why I can't use HRD (no secondary port option) to operate my station and had hoped to get support for TRX-Manager/DxLabs soon so I can run the remote station "on the road" with the "Micro" as I do from home with the RRC-1258 pair.

Joe W4WT